There have been rumours circulating for a while but now it seems Olympus has sold its camera business to a private equity firm.
In the full statement, Olympus has said that the new company (NewCo) will ‘continue to offer high-quality, highly reliable products; and also continue to provide supports to the imaging solution products that have been
distributed by Olympus.’
And on its Facebook page Olympus UK has sought to reassure its customers saying ‘Olympus sees this potential transfer as an opportunity to enable our imaging business to grow and delight both longtime and new photography enthusiasts.’
Olympus UK has posted the following on its Facebook page:
Today the Olympus Imaging Business has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Japan Industrial Partners, Inc. (JIP). According to the MOU, both companies are entering into further discussions about the potential transfer of Olympus’ long-standing imaging business to JIP by the end of 2020.
JIP is a strong investment fund with a track record of success and has maximised the growth of many brands. JIP will use the innovative technologies and solid brand position of Olympus within the market, while also improving the profit structure of Olympus’s imaging business.
We understand you may have many questions, all of which we will work to answer in the upcoming weeks. We ask for your patience: we believe this is the right step to preserve our brand’s legacy, the products, and the value of our technology. Olympus sees this potential transfer as an opportunity to enable our imaging business to grow and delight both longtime and new photography enthusiasts. Olympus and JIP will continue discussions, and we are committed to providing full transparency about our intentions as the plans solidify.
We are grateful to all our customers for their loyalty and support for our products, and their passion for photography. During the ongoing discussions, Olympus Imaging will operate with business as usual: we will continue to work on innovative initiatives for our customers and we will launch new products as planned.
For the full statement, please tap through here: www.olympus-global.com/news/2020/nr01695.html
Full Statement
June 24, 2020: News Release
Company: Olympus Corporation
Yasuo Takeuchi, Director, Representative Executive Officer, President and CEO
(Code: 7733, First Section, Tokyo Stock Exchange)
Company: Japan Industrial Partners, Inc.
Hidemi Moue, CEO
Signing of Memorandum of Understanding for Divestiture of Imaging Business
Olympus Corporation (“Olympus”) and Japan Industrial Partners, Inc. (“JIP”) hereby announce that, today,the parties signed a memorandum of understanding to carveout Olympus’s Imaging business to a new company
(“NewCo”) and subsequently transfer its shares to a fund managed, operated or otherwise handled by JIP (the
“Transaction”).
After the due diligence and further discussions and negotiations, the parties are aiming to sign a legallybinding definitive agreement for the Transaction (the “Definitive Agreement”) by September 30, 2020. We will
promptly make further announcement if any matters relating to the Transaction that needs further announcement
occur.
- Background and Purpose of the Transaction
Olympus’s Imaging business began with the manufacture and sale of a camera using the photographic
lens Zuiko in 1936. Through innovative technology and unique product development capabilities, Olympus
has developed and launched various products, aiming to contribute to make people’s lives more fulfilling.
Those products include: Olympus Pen, the innovative half-sized camera; Zuiko Pearlcorder, the world’s
first micro-cassette tape recorder; and Olympus OM-D series, the mirrorless interchangeable lens camera.
Olympus has implemented measures to cope with the extremely severe digital camera market, due to,
amongst others, rapid market shrink caused by the evolution of smartphones; Olympus has improved the
cost structure by restructuring the manufacturing bases and focusing on high-value-added interchangeable
lenses, aiming to rectify the earning structure to those that may continue generating profit even as sales
dwindles. Despite all such efforts, Olympus’s Imaging business recorded operating losses for 3 consecutive
fiscal years up to the term ended in March 2020.
Under such circumstances, Olympus considers that, by carving-out the Imaging business and by
operating the business with JIP, the Imaging business’s corporate structure may become more compact,
efficient and agile and it is the most appropriate way to realize its self-sustainable and continuous growth
and to bring values to the users of our products as well as our employees working in the Imaging business.
Olympus therefore has decided to sign the memorandum of understanding for the Transaction.
JIP has strong track records in supporting strategic carve-outs that realize growth potential and
encourage autonomous growth. By adding support from JIP, the NewCo, as the successor of reputable
brands such as “OM-D” and “ZUIKO,” will utilize the innovative technology and unique product
development capabilities which have been developed within Olympus, and will realize continuous
growth of the business by bringing better products and services to the users and customers and by
making itself a productive and rewarding work place for its employees. - Imaging Business after the Transaction
NewCo will succeed and maintain the research and development functions and manufacturing functions globally as reformed under the contemplated structuring reforms to continue to offer high-quality, highly reliable products; and also continue to provide supports to the imaging solution products that have been
distributed by Olympus. - Outline of the Transaction
The specifics of the Transaction shall be decided in the Definitive Agreement after careful examination
and consultation between the parties. The parties currently consider the outline of the Transaction shall be
as follows.
The parties will proceed with the actions and procedures for Transactions in full compliance with
applicable laws including consultation obligations and other requirements under local employment laws.
(1) Structure : (i) Olympus’s Imaging business will be transferred to the NewCo by way of
company split or otherwise, and then, (ii) shares in the NewCo will be
transferred to a new company to be established by JIP.
(2) Signing of
Definitive Agreement
: Scheduled to be signed by September 30, 2020
(3) Closing : Olympus and JIP strive to close the Transaction by December 31, 2020. - Structuring Reform
Prior to the closing of the Transaction, Olympus plans to implement structuring reforms to the Imaging
business aiming to change the business structure of Imaging business to be more profitable and sustainable. - We are currently investigating costs and other impacts of the structuring reform. If any future event which
requires disclosure arises, Olympus will announce it promptly.
Contact:
Olympus Corporation, Investor Relations: TEL．03-3340-2111
Japan Industrial Partners, Inc.: TEL．03-6266-5781
End